Tulane University
3-6 , 0-5
UCF*
5-4 , 3-2
Turnovers Plague Football in 37-6 Loss at UCF
Nov 5, 2016 | Football
UCF returned three turnovers for touchdowns in the second half
Photo Gallery | Printable Stats
ORLANDO – Tulane football scored a touchdown on its opening drive but failed to reach the end zone for the remainder of the game as UCF claimed a 37-6 victory on Saturday night inside Bright House Networks Stadium.
Trailing just 7-6 at the half, three Tulane turnovers returned for touchdowns proved insurmountable for the Green Wave (3-6, 0-5 American Athletic Conference | West) in the second half.
"A great job by UCF. They really played well defensively," said Tulane head coach Willie Fritz. "As I've said many times before, we have to be on point (offensively). When we get off schedule, we have difficulties converting first downs. All 11 on offense have to play well. It was not a very good effort offensively. We just have to regroup and finish the year the best we can. We don't have to play error free but we have to come pretty close to that."
The Olive and Blue came out of the starting gate firing on both sides of the ball. On the first play of the game Robert Kennedy forced a fumble on Adrian Killins as Parry Nickerson then scooped it up for the Wave's 12th fumble recovery of the season.
Tulane then took advantage of the take-away by driving the ball 42 yards in five plays for the score and the 6-0 lead (PAT was blocked). Dontrell Hilliard logged four carries for 26 yards on the drive, capped by a 14-yard rush for the score, marking his ninth touchdown of the season. In fact, by the end of the first quarter, the Wave had already racked up 106 yards on the ground.
Tulane's defense kept UCF (5-4, 3-2 The American | East) off the board for over 20 minutes until the Knights broke through mid-way through the second quarter. Starting on their own 42-yard line, UCF drove 58 yards in seven plays in three minutes to claim a 7-6 lead, which remained through halftime.
However, three Tulane turnovers that were returned for touchdowns doomed the Green Wave's chances in the second half. Two came in the third quarter when UCF returned a fumble 30 yards for the score, and then on the very next series, returned a 33-yard interception for the touchdown, thus building a 20-6 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Knights returned an interception 86-yards for the score, extending its lead to 30-6. UCF later tacked on one more touchdown via a six-play, 80-yard drive to bring the final score to 37-6.
Up next, Tulane remains on the road traveling to Houston on Saturday, Nov. 12. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT and will air live on the CBS Sports Network.
Green Wave Notes
• This marked the eighth meeting between Tulane and UCF. Tulane now trails the all-time series 6-2 with a 0-4 record in Orlando.
• On the first play of the game, Redshirt sophomore DE Robert Kennedy earned his first career forced fumble. Redshirt junior CB Parry Nickerson then recorded his second fumble recovery of the season and fourth of his career.
• With the Nickerson fumble recovery, Tulane picked up its 12th fumble recovery of the season, which ties Washington for the most in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision this season. (Washington plays at California later Saturday night.)
• In the first quarter, Nickerson earned his third interception of the season and ninth of his career. He netted a season high five tackles in the game.
• Junior RB Dontrell Hilliard notched his ninth rushing touchdown of the season and 18th of his career on Tulane's opening drive. Of the five-play, 42-yard drive, Hilliard rushed four times for 26 yards, capped by a 14-yard touchdown carry.
• After Tulane's first touchdown on its opening drive, UCF blocked the PAT. It marked the first blocked PAT against Tulane since Memphis on Oct. 31, 2015.
• Tulane held UCF scoreless in the first quarter. It marked the third time this season the Green Wave defense recorded a shutout in the opening 15 minutes (previously achieved at Wake Forest and vs. Navy).
• Junior DE Daren Williams collected his first sack of the season, second of his career, in the second quarter.
• Tulane rushed for 106 yards on 19 carries in the first quarter, marking the first time this season the Green Wave crossed over the 100-yard mark in the opening quarter.
• Redshirt sophomore WR Terren Encalade recorded a catch for 20 yards in the second quarter. He now has a reception in six straight games.
• In the third quarter, UCF secured its second touchdown of the game via a 30-yard fumble recovery. It marked the first fumble return for a touchdown since Southern achieved the feat against the Wave on Sept. 10 of this year.
• In the third quarter, UCF earned its third touchdown of the game via a 33-yard interception return. It marked the first interception return for a touchdown since Houston's Adrian McDonald on Nov. 8, 2014.
• UCF's two interceptions returned for a touchdown was the first time since Tulsa accomplished the feat against Tulane on Nov. 27, 2015.
• Eight players extended their double-digit starting streaks on Friday against Memphis: OG Chris Taylor (36), LB Nico Marley (34), DT Tanzel Smart (33), CB Parry Nickerson (30), FS Jarrod Franklin (21), OT Todd Jacquet (21), DE Ade Aruna (15), RB Dontrell Hilliard (11).
• Nickerson carried out the No. 18 Flag in honor of former Green Wave player Devon Walker.
• Game captains were seniors LB Nico Marley, TE Marshall Wadleigh and DT Tanzel Smart.
Team Stats
TLN 6, UCF 0
TLN - HILLIARD, D. 14 yd run (DiROCCO, Andrew kickblocked), 5 plays, 42 yards, TOP 2:30
TLN 6, UCF 7
UCF - MILTON, M. 1 yd run (WRIGHT, Matthew kick), 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:04
TLN 6, UCF 13
UCF - JOHNSON, Drico 30 yd fumble recovery (WRIGHT, Matthew kickfailed)
TLN 6, UCF 20
UCF - GRIFFIN, Shqll 33 yd interception (WRIGHT, Matthew kick)
TLN 6, UCF 23
UCF - WRIGHT, Matthew 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:17
TLN 6, UCF 30
UCF - JOHNSON, Drico 86 yd interception (WRIGHT, Matthew kick)
TLN 6, UCF 37
UCF - HOLMAN, Justin 1 yd run (WRIGHT, Matthew kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:44
